Dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

A dilution suppression device 1 consists of a container 11 that can hold lubricating oil O containing a fuel component of an engine, a lubricating oil injection section 12 that injects lubricating oil O into the container 11, an absorption section 13 that is provided inside the container 11 and can absorb lubricating oil O, an internal pressure reduction section 14 that reduces the internal pressure of the container, a heating section 15 that heats the lubricating oil O to separate the fuel component from the lubricating oil O, a gas introduction section 16 that introduces gas into the container 11, a fuel component discharge section 17 that discharges the fuel component from the container 11, and a lubricating oil discharge section 18 that discharges the lubricating oil O with the fuel component separated from the container 11.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2021-106522, filed on Jun. 28, 2021, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there has been known a technique for separating fuel or a moisture-containing component in fuel (hereinafter referred to as “fuel component”) contained in lubricating oil used in an internal combustion engine from the lubricating oil (refer to, for example, Patent Literature 1: JP 4983771 B).

In recent years, internal combustion engines have been improved in efficiency and have been used in hybrid systems, so that the oil temperature of the lubricating oil during operation has been lowered compared with that of conventional internal combustion engines. Therefore, in recent internal combustion engines, there is a problem of insufficient evaporation of the fuel component contained in the lubricating oil. That is, in recent internal combustion engines, there is a desire to further improving the suppression of dilution of lubricating oil by separating the fuel component.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention, which has been made in view of the above-mentioned problem, to provide a technique to suppress dilution of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine.

SUMMARY

To solve the above problem, a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a container that is capable of holding lubricating oil containing a fuel component; a lubricating oil injection section that injects the lubricating oil into the container; an absorption section that is provided inside the container and capable of absorbing the lubricating oil; an internal pressure reduction section that reduces internal pressure of the container; a heating section that heats the lubricating oil to separate the fuel component from the lubricating oil; a gas introduction section that introduces gas into the container; a fuel component discharge section that discharges the fuel component from the container; and a lubricating oil discharge section that discharges the lubricating oil of which the fuel component was separated, from the container.

In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the internal pressure reduction section is configured of: a lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion provided in the lubricating oil injection section; a gas introduction section opening/closing portion disposed in the gas introduction section; a fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion disposed in the fuel component discharge section; a lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion disposed in the lubricating oil discharge section; and a negative pressure generation section connected to the fuel component discharge section.

In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the negative pressure generation section is an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the heating section heats the lubricating oil by heating the absorption section.

In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the absorption section is a filter material capable of absorbing the lubricating oil.

In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the dilution suppression device has a function as an oil filter.

In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the dilution suppression device is attached to a headcover of an internal combustion engine.

According to the present invention, the dilution of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine is suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a container of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are schematic perspective views showing absorption sections of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are schematic views showing mesh members of an absorption section of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 5(A)-5(D) are schematic views for explaining the process of suppressing the dilution of lubricating oil by the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is schematic views for explaining the process of suppressing the dilution of lubricating oil by the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a container and a heating section of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the dilution suppression device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a container 11 of the dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine.

For the sake of explanation, in the dilution suppression device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 , the longitudinal direction of the dilution suppression device 1 is defined as the top-bottom direction or the vertical direction, and the transverse direction of the dilution suppression device 1, which is orthogonal to the top-bottom direction, is defined as the left-right direction or the horizontal direction. In the following description, when the terms “right,” “left,” “front,” “rear,” “upper,” and “lower” are used to refer to the positional relationship and the direction of each component, these terms are mere references of the positional relationship and the direction in the drawings which do not limit the positional relationship and the direction in the actual dilution suppression device 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine is attached to an internal combustion engine (hereinafter also referred to as “engine”). The dilution suppression device 1 includes a container 11 that is capable of holding lubricating oil O containing a fuel component of an engine, a lubricating oil injection section 12 that injects the lubricating oil O into the container 11, an absorption section 13 that is provided inside the container 11 and capable of absorbing the lubricating oil O, an internal pressure reduction section 14 that reduces the internal pressure of the container, a heating section 15 that heats the lubricating oil O to separate the fuel component from the lubricating oil O, a gas introduction section 16 that introduces gas into the container 11, a fuel component discharge section 17 that discharges the fuel component from the container 11, and a lubricating oil discharge section 18 that discharges the lubricating oil O of which the fuel component was separated, from the container 11. The dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the present embodiment will now be described in detail.

The container 11 is configured of a container upper portion 111 and a container lower portion 112. The container upper portion 111 is formed in a cup shape, in a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape having an open lower end. The fuel component discharge section 17 is disposed at the upper end of the container upper portion 111. The container lower portion 112 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape having an open upper end and a closed lower end with a bottom face. The lubricating oil injection section 12 and the gas introduction section 16 are disposed on the side face of the container lower portion 112. The lubricating oil discharge section 18 is disposed on the bottom face of the container lower portion 112. The open ends of the container upper portion 111 and the container lower portion 112 are joined together to constitute the container 11 that is capable of holding the lubricating oil O in its internal space. A packing 113 is provided at the joint between the container upper portion 111 and the container lower portion 112 to seal the container 11. Since the container upper portion 111 and the container lower portion 112 of the container 11 can be separated, the absorption section 13 disposed inside the container 11 can be detached. In the dilution suppression device 1, the container 11 and the absorption section 13 have a structure equivalent to a replaceable cartridge type oil filter in which a filter body and a case are separated and only the filter body is replaced. That is, the container 11 corresponds to the case of the cartridge type oil filter, and the absorption section 13 corresponds to the oil filter body.

As described above, the lubricating oil injection section 12 is disposed on the side face of the container lower portion 112. The lubricating oil injection section 12 is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container 11 with the outside. The lubricating oil injection section 12 is connected to a lubricating oil system, such as an oil pan of the internal combustion engine. The lubricating oil injection section 12 injects lubricating oil O flowing in from the outside of the container 11 into the container 11.

The absorption section 13 is disposed inside the container 11. The absorption section 13 is a member that is capable of absorbing the lubricating oil O. For the absorption section 13, for example, a filter material capable of absorbing the lubricating oil can be used. As the filter materials constituting absorption sections 13 and 13B, various materials having oil absorbability, such as paper, nonwoven fabric, and mesh may be used. Specifically, the function and structure of the absorption section 13 are equivalent to those of the engine oil filter.

FIG. 3 is schematic perspective views showing absorption sections 13A and 13B of the dilution suppression device 1. FIG. 3(A) illustrates a spiral-shaped absorption section 13A. FIG. 3(B) illustrates a pleated-shaped absorption section 13B. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the absorption sections 13A and 13B may be respectively composed of spiral and pleated filter materials each configured in a substantially cylindrical outer shape. Since the absorption sections 13A and 13B are configured in a spiral shape or a pleated shape, the surface area of the filter material can be enlarged.

FIG. 4 is schematic views showing mesh members 131A and 131B, respectively, of the absorption section 13 of the dilution suppression device 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , when the mesh members 131A and 131B are used as the filter materials of the absorption section 13, the diameters D1 and D2 and the inter-fiber distances L1 and L2 of the respective fibers 132A and 132B are uniform, so that the amount of the lubricating oil that can be collected inside and between the fibers 132A and 132B can be stabilized. That is, when the mesh members 131A and 131B are used as the filter materials of the absorption section 13, the contact area with the air contained inside the container 11 can be kept constant. When the mesh members 131A and 131B are used as the filter materials of the absorption section 13, the collection capacity of the lubricating oil of the absorption section 13 can be freely changed by changing any one of the diameters D1 and D2 or the inter-fiber distances L1 and L2 of the fibers 132A and 132B.

As described above, the gas introduction section 16 is disposed on the side face of the container lower portion 112. The gas introduction section 16 is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container 11 with the outside. The gas introduction section 16 is a member for introducing a gas such as air into the container 11 from the outside of the dilution suppression device 1.

As described above, the fuel component discharge section 17 is disposed on the upper end of the container upper portion 111. The fuel component discharge section 17 is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container 11 with the outside. The fuel component discharge section 17 is connected to an intake manifold of the engine. The air containing the fuel component discharged from the fuel component discharge section 17 is discharged to an intake manifold 145.

As described above, the lubricating oil discharge section 18 is disposed on the container lower portion 112. The lubricating oil discharge section 18 is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container 11 with the outside. The lubricating oil discharge section 18 is connected to the lubricating oil system, such as the oil pan of the engine. The lubricating oil discharge section 18 discharges the lubricating oil O discharged from the inside of the container 11 to the lubricating oil system.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the internal pressure reduction section 14 is configured of a lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141, a gas introduction section opening/closing portion 142, a fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143, a lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144, and the intake manifold 145 as an example of a negative pressure generation section of the engine.

The lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141 is disposed in the lubricating oil injection section 12. The lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141 is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the lubricating oil injection section 12. The gas introduction section opening/closing portion 142 is disposed in the gas introduction section 16. The lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141 can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a solenoid valve.

The gas introduction section opening/closing portion 142 is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the gas introduction section 16. The fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 is disposed in the fuel component discharge section 17. The gas introduction section opening/closing portion 142 can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a solenoid valve, for example.

The fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the fuel component discharge section 17. The lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144 is disposed in the lubricating oil discharge section 18. The fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a solenoid valve, for example.

The lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144 is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the lubricating oil discharge section 18. The lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144 can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a one-way valve or a solenoid valve, for example.

The intake manifold 145 is connected to the fuel component discharge section 17. The intake manifold 145 is an example of a mechanism that can generate negative pressure in the engine. The negative pressure generation section of the dilution suppression device 1 is not limited to the intake manifold 145. As another example of the negative pressure generation section, a vacuum pump used in a brake system of a vehicle equipped with a diesel engine can be used.

The heating section 15 heats the lubricating oil by heating the absorption section 13. The heating section 15 can be configured by using a heating device, such as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, for example. The heating section 15 is disposed inside the container 11 so as to surround at least one of the outer circumferential side or the outer side of the absorption section 13. In the dilution suppression device 1, the heating section 15 is not limited to the PTC heater.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views for explaining the process of suppressing the dilution of lubricating oil by the dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine. The operation of the dilution suppression device 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 .

As illustrated in FIG. 5(A), when the dilution suppression device 1 executes the process for suppressing the dilution of the lubricating oil, the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141 opens to inject the lubricating oil O from the lubricating oil injection section 12 into the container 11. In the step of injecting the lubricating oil O into the container 11, the gas introduction section opening/closing portion 142 is opened, and the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 and the lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144 are closed. As illustrated in FIG. 5(B), as the lubricating oil O is injected from the lubricating oil injection section 12 into the container 11, the oil level of the lubricating oil O inside the container 11 rises.

As illustrated in FIG. 5(C), in the dilution suppression device 1, when a predetermined volume of the lubricating oil O is injected into the container 11, the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141 and the gas introduction section opening/closing portion 142 close, and the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 opens. The fuel component discharge section 17 communicates with the intake manifold 145 as a result of the opening of the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143. The fuel component discharge section 17 communicates with the intake manifold 145 to reduce the internal pressure of the container 11 by the negative pressure generated by the intake manifold 145.

As illustrated in FIG. 5(D), in the dilution suppression device 1, after the internal pressure of the container 11 is reduced, the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 closes. After the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 is closed, the lubricating oil O is heated by the heating section 15 in the dilution suppression device 1. As a result of heating the lubricating oil O, the fuel and the moisture-containing fuel component are separated in the form of gas, i.e., blow-by gas.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(E), when the lubricating oil O and the fuel component are separated, the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 opens to communicate the inside of the container 11 with the fuel component discharge section 17, and the blow-by gas is discharged to the outside of the container 11. The blow-by gas discharged from the container 11 is sent to the intake manifold 145 through a positive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV) communicating with the fuel component discharge section 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(F), when the engine stops after the blow-by gas has been discharged from the inside of the container 11, in the dilution suppression device 1, the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141 opens, and the lubricating oil O is injected into the container 11. In the dilution suppression device 1, the lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144 opens in conjunction with the opening of the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141, and the lubricating oil O of which the blow-by gas was separated, which is stored inside the container 11, is discharged from the lubricating oil discharge section 18.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6(G) and 6(H), in the dilution suppression device 1, the lubricating oil O of which the blow-by gas was separated, is discharged. Thereafter, the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143 and the lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144 close, and process returns to the initial state illustrated in FIG. 5(A).

As described above, in the dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine of an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment, the lubricating oil O containing the fuel component is stored inside the container 11, and the fuel component can be separated as blow-by gas by heating the lubricating oil O by the heating section 15 while the internal pressure of the container 11 is reduced by the internal pressure reduction section 14. Thus, according to the dilution suppression device 1, the deterioration and emulsification of the lubricating oil O can be suppressed, and the lubricating performance of the lubricating oil O can be maintained. Moreover, according to the dilution suppression device 1, as a result of suppressing the deterioration of the lubricating oil O, the oil replacement cost for a user of a vehicle equipped with an engine can be reduced.

In the dilution suppression device 1, since the container 11 and the absorption section 13 have the function and structure of an existing oil filter, the dilution suppression device 1 can be readily attached to and detached from the engine. That is, the dilution suppression device 1 can be used in place of an existing oil filter.

Therefore, the dilution suppression device 1 can suppress the dilution of the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine.

The second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a dilution suppression device 1B according to the present embodiment, the same components as those of the dilution suppression device 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device 1B of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a container 11B and a heating section 15B of the dilution suppression device 1B of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the dilution suppression device 1B is different from the dilution suppression device 1 described above mainly in the configuration of the container 11B. Specifically, unlike the container 11 configured of the container upper portion 111 and the container lower portion 112, the container 11B has a container upper portion 111 formed in a cup shape and a container lower portion 112 formed in a plate-like shape. The container 11B is configured to be integrally formed in a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape, with a resin housing 114 provided at the lowest portion of the container 11B. A fuel component discharge section 17B is disposed on the upper end of the container 11B. A gas introduction section 16B is disposed on a side face of the container 11B. A heating section 15B is disposed on a lower side face of the container 11B. A lubricating oil injection section 12B and a lubricating oil discharge section 18B are disposed on the bottom face of the container 11B. The functions of the lubricating oil injection section 12B, the internal pressure reduction section 14B, the gas introduction section 16B, the fuel component discharge section 17B, and the lubricating oil discharge section 18B are respectively the same as the lubricating oil injection section 12, the internal pressure reduction section 14, the gas introduction section 16, the fuel component discharge section 17, and the lubricating oil discharge section 18 of the dilution suppression device 1 described above.

The container 11B and the absorption section 13B have the same structure as that of a spin-on type oil filter in which the filter body and the case are integrally replaceable. That is, the container 11B corresponds to the case of the spin-on type oil filter, and the absorption section 13B corresponds to the oil filter body. The structures of the container 11B and the absorption section 13B are not limited to the modes of the dilution suppression device 1 described above, and may be as, for example, those of the dilution suppression device 1B.

Similar to the dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment, in the dilution suppression device 1B of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the second embodiment, the lubricating oil O containing a fuel component is stored inside the container 11B, and the fuel component can be separated as blow-by gas by heating the lubricating oil O by the heating section 15B while the internal pressure of the container 11B is reduced by the internal pressure reduction section 14B. Thus, according to the dilution suppression device 1B, the deterioration and emulsification of the lubricating oil O can be suppressed, and the lubricating performance of the lubricating oil O can be maintained. Moreover, according to the dilution suppression device 1B, as a result of suppressing the deterioration of the lubricating oil O, the oil replacement cost for a user of a vehicle equipped with an engine can be reduced.

In the dilution suppression device 1B, since the container 11B and the absorption section 13B have the function and structure of an existing oil filter, the dilution suppression device 1B can be readily attached to and detached from the engine. That is, the dilution suppression device 1B can be used in place of an existing oil filter.

Therefore, the dilution suppression device 1B can suppress the dilution of the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine.

The third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a dilution suppression device 1C according to the present embodiment, the same components as those of the dilution suppression device 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dilution suppression device 1C of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the dilution suppression device 1C.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 , a headcover 20 is disposed above an engine 40, which is an internal combustion engine, and covers the engine 40. The headcover 20 includes a main cover 22 and a baffle plate 24.

The baffle plate 24 is a plate-like member and is fixed to the main cover 22 so as to close the opening in the main cover 22. The main cover 22 and the baffle plate 24 define an oil mist separator 30. The oil mist separator 30 separates oil mist from blow-by gas generated from the engine 40.

An opening 24 c is formed in the baffle plate 24. The engine 40 includes a camshaft (not illustrated). The number of camshafts is of course not limited. The opening 24 c is formed above the camshaft. In this way, the blow-by gas containing the lubricating oil O scattered from the camshaft can be introduced to the oil mist separator 30 through the opening 24 c.

A mounting hole 22 d is formed in the main cover 22. A PCV valve 26 is inserted into the mounting hole 22 d and fixed thereto. The PCV valve 26 circulates the blow-by gas generated from the engine 40 to an intake system. Since the configuration and function of the PCV valve 26 are well known, description thereof will be omitted.

The dilution suppression device 1C is attached in the interior of the headcover 20 of the engine 40. Specifically, the dilution suppression device 1C is disposed in the interior of the baffle plate 24 inside the headcover 20. That is, the dilution suppression device 1C is disposed adjacent to the oil mist separator 30 in the interior of the headcover 20. The dilution suppression device 1C includes a cuboid or substantially cuboid container 11C.

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , in the dilution suppression device 1C, the container 11C is provided with a lubricating oil injection section 12C that communicates the inside of the container 11C with the outside, an absorption section 13C, an internal pressure reduction section 14C, a heating section 15C, a gas introduction section 16C, a fuel component discharge section 17C, and a lubricating oil discharge section 18C. The functions of the lubricating oil injection section 12C, the absorption section 13C, the internal pressure reduction section 14C, the heating section 15C, the gas introduction section 16C, the fuel component discharge section 17C, and the lubricating oil discharge section 18C are respectively the same as the lubricating oil injection section 12, the absorption section 13, the internal pressure reduction section 14, the heating section 15, the gas introduction section 16, the fuel component discharge section 17, and the lubricating oil discharge section 18 of the dilution suppression device 1 described above.

The lubricating oil injection section 12C is disposed on the side face of the container 11C. The lubricating oil injection section 12C is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container 11C with the outside. The lubricating oil injection section 12C is connected to an oil pan 60 of the engine 40. The lubricating oil injection section 12C injects lubricating oil O flowing in from the outside of the container 11C into the container 11C.

The absorption section 13C is disposed inside the container 11C. For the absorption section 13C, a member that is capable of absorbing the lubricating oil O, for example, a filter material that capable of absorbing the lubricating oil, can be used in the same manner as the absorption section 13 described above.

The internal pressure reduction section 14C is configured of a lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion 141, a gas introduction section opening/closing portion 142, a fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion 143, a lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion 144, and the intake manifold 145 as an example of a negative pressure generation section of the engine.

The heating section 15C is disposed inside the container 11C so as to surround at least one of the outer circumferential side and the outer side of the absorption section 13C in the same manner as the heating section 15 described above.

The gas introduction section 16C is a member for introducing a gas such as air into the container 11C from the outside of the dilution suppression device 1C in the same manner as the gas introduction section 16 described above.

The fuel component discharge section 17C is connected to the intake manifold 145 of the engine 40 in the same manner as the fuel component discharge section 17 described above. The air containing the fuel component discharged from the fuel component discharge section 17C is discharged to the intake manifold 145 through the oil mist separator 30, the PCV valve 26, and a valve V, such as a one-way valve or a solenoid valve.

The lubricating oil discharge section 18C is connected to the oil pan 60 of the engine 40 in the same manner as the lubricating oil discharge section 18 described above. The lubricating oil discharge section 18C discharges the lubricating oil O discharged from the inside of the container 11C to the oil pan 60 through the oil mist separator 30 and a lubricating system, such as an oil pump P.

Similar to the dilution suppression device 1 of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment, in the dilution suppression device 1C of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the third embodiment, the lubricating oil O containing the fuel component is stored inside the container 11C, and the fuel component can be separated as blow-by gas by heating the lubricating oil O by the heating section 15C while the internal pressure of the container 11C is reduced by the internal pressure reduction section 14C. Thus, according to the dilution suppression device 1C, the deterioration and emulsification of the lubricating oil O can be suppressed, and the lubricating performance of the lubricating oil O can be maintained. Moreover, according to the dilution suppression device 1C, as a result of suppressing the deterioration of the lubricating oil O, the oil replacement cost for a user of a vehicle equipped with an engine can be reduced.

Therefore, the dilution suppression device 1C can suppress the dilution of the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention includes all aspects included in the concepts and claims of the present invention. The respective configurations may be appropriately and selectively combined to solve at least a part of the above-described problems and achieve at least some of the effects. For example, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc., of each configuration in the above-described embodiments can be appropriately modified according to the specific use mode of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a modified example of the dilution suppression device 1B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 11 , the dilution suppression device 1B may be attached to an upper portion of the headcover 20 of the engine 40, inside of which the dilution suppression device 1C according to the third embodiment had been attached. The headcover 20 is provided with the baffle plate 24 and the oil mist separator 30, as described above. In the dilution suppression device 1B, the lubricating oil injection section 12B and the lubricating oil discharge section 18B are connected to the main cover 22. The lubricating oil O is injected from the oil pan 60 of the engine 40 into the container 11B through the main cover 22 and the lubricating oil injection section 12B. The lubricating oil O discharged from the dilution suppression device 1B returns to the oil pan 60 through the main cover 22, the oil mist separator 30, the baffle plate 24, and the lubricating system of the engine 40.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a modified example of the dilution suppression device 1C according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 12 , the dilution suppression device 1C is not limited to one attached to the upper portion of the headcover 20 of the engine 40 as in the third embodiment described above. In FIG. 12 , the dilution suppression device 1C differs from the above-described dilution suppression device 1C in that the dilution suppression device 1C is disposed at a position that is not the upper portion of the headcover 20 of the engine 40, and also differs in that the gas introduction section 16C is connected to the downstream (discharge) side of the PCV valve 26. That is, in the modified example illustrated in FIG. 12 , the dilution suppression device 1C is not disposed on the headcover 20 of the engine 40. Thus, the dilution suppression device 1C of the modified example can be readily mounted to an existing engine 40 without changing the structure of the existing engine 40, by providing piping of the lubricating oil injection section 12C and the gas introduction section 16C between the engine 40 and the dilution suppression device 1C, and by providing piping of the lubricating oil discharge section 18C.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1, 1B, 1C dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an     internal combustion engine (dilution suppression device); 11, 11B,     11C container; 12, 12B, 12C lubricating oil injection section; 13,     13B, 13C absorption section; 14, 14B, 14C internal pressure     reduction section; 15, 15B, 15C heating section; 16, 16B, 16C gas     introduction section; 17, 17B, 17C fuel component discharge section;     18, 18B, 18C lubricating oil discharge section; 20 headcover; 22     main cover; 24 baffle plate; 24 c opening; 26 PCV valve; 30 oil mist     separator; 40 engine; 60 oil pan; 111 container upper portion; 112     container lower portion; 113 packing; 114 resin housing; 131A, 131B     mesh member; 132A, 132B fiber; 141 lubricating-oil injection section     opening/closing portion; 142 gas introduction section     opening/closing portion; 143 fuel-component discharge section     opening/closing portion; 144 lubricating-oil discharge section     opening/closing portion; 145 intake manifold. 

1. A dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a container that is capable of holding lubricating oil containing a fuel component; a lubricating oil injection section that injects the lubricating oil into the container; an absorption section that is provided inside the container and capable of absorbing the lubricating oil; an internal pressure reduction section that reduces internal pressure of the container; a heating section that heats the lubricating oil to separate the fuel component from the lubricating oil; a gas introduction section that introduces gas into the container; a fuel component discharge section that discharges the fuel component from the container; and a lubricating oil discharge section that discharges the lubricating oil of which the fuel component was separated, from the container.
 2. The dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the internal pressure reduction section is configured of: a lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion provided in the lubricating oil injection section; a gas introduction section opening/closing portion disposed in the gas introduction section; a fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion disposed in the fuel component discharge section; a lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion disposed in the lubricating oil discharge section; and a negative pressure generation section connected to the fuel component discharge section.
 3. The dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the negative pressure generation section is an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.
 4. The dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating section heats the lubricating oil by heating the absorption section.
 5. The dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the absorption section is a filter material capable of absorbing the lubricating oil.
 6. The dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein the dilution suppression device has a function as an oil filter.
 7. The dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dilution suppression device is attached to a headcover of an internal combustion engine. 